Once there was a hangman
Who always dressed in black
Now he sleeps in silence
Inprisoned without a sentence.
Karl Glass
Endings
Two weeks later, Mary Jane and I were getting used to our new surroundings in a Pennsylvania county. I told her about Colangelo's men getting a calling card. Both are doing time in Rikers, in New York, under different names courtesy of the local DMV. The trail should lead back to the Caribbean and to Colangelo himself. Agent Borders made sure of it.
The area we live in resembles Appalachia country. The people have Amish dialects. Things were going swell. Then Agent Jim Borders rang on a private cell phone.
.
"Karl, it's Stanley. He passed on last night at a prison hospital in Cheyenne, left names, dates, places, and bodies."
"Jim, so he lied about his time?"
"Looks like it. They found a torn towel around his throat, self-asphyxiation. Strange perpetrator. I almost miss the guy. It's a helluva a payback or redemption."
"He'll get no absolution from me. Thanks Jim."
"No problem, anytime. Take care, say hi to Mary for me."
MJ was leaning on my shoulder in bed, listening. She nibbled on neck. "Okay Jim, I will. Night."
"Jim said hi," I leaned over to kiss her cheek and sighed.
"That's sweet, when he calls next time tell him hi for me. Now I have news Mr. I want your undivided attention or else."
"Okay. Mrs. Glass?"
"To use a phrase from this area, I'm with child."
"Boy or girl?"
"Uh-huh." She said smiling and kissed me.
"Both? Thou are quite amazing." I reciprocated
"Sir, thee are most kind. I had help from a certain gentleman. I'm not saying its twins, silly."
"Still, thou, are quite awesome."
She smiled and nuzzled my shoulder. Her long auburn caressing my arm. I couldn't let it go so I told her about Stanley and his call to Miami.
Tears rolled from her eyes. We kissed taking the night's breath away. We kept each other safe, no more hangmen, no more fear or running for a while, our love filled the air.
Six straight men in the cast plus free Tex-Mex food? My friend Lida Rose sure knew how to persuade me. I signed on the dotted line and dusted off my dance shoes. I knew Bad Business on the Brazos would have them rolling in the aisles and standing up
